OWH Challenges

Good Thursday Afternoon,

Well it has been a few weeks since my last post.  (Ok - lots of weeks) We were visiting friends and family in Northern California and have now returned to our desert outpost.  I did manage to play along with one challenge while visiting my daughter, Dina.  We each made two cards -- using OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch 147 from November 18th.   Dina picked a stamp that I bought while visiting Alaska this summer -- she liked the bear and the heart.   Dina did the coloring as that is not my favorite thing to do. The cards also are perfect for this Wednesday's Midweek Throwdown Challenge -- making "Love" cards.

As you can see it has been since October 6th that I've posted my cards -- that is how far behind I am on my card making for the sketches.  Oh my gosh -- will I ever catch up????  Maybe after Christmas.

Anyway thanks for stopping in -- it is so nice to see friends and family but it is nice to be back home with all my crafty things too.

Have fun crafting and hugs,


Sharon

Sketch Challenge #147 - 

My daughter, Dina, holding the first two cards that she ever made.

This is for Sunday's Challenge #149

Both of these cards are  for the Wednesday's Throwdown Challenge -- "Love" cards

World Card Making Day Bloghop with OWH

                                                     To go back to the hop click on the above or here bloghop
Hello to all my visitors.  Thanks for stopping in to join in Operation Write Home's World Card Making Day Bloghop.  It is such an honor to be a part of this hop and having the opportunity to share my wintery card creation.

Making handmade cards for our Heroes to write home to family and friends is just a small way that I can say "Thank You" to our amazing Heroes who risk their lives daily for our freedom.

You could join us in thanking our Heroes by making handmade cards too  -- go to Operation Write Home (OWH) for all the information on how to get started.

Now for my Wintery card:

I used OWH Sketch Challenge #37.  I flipped the sketch and changed the 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 rectangle to create my card.
The sentiment and image are stamps from Artistic Outpost. 

I wanted to show a close up of the glitter (safe and sound) under the acetate.  I also punched my snowflakes
from my prepared Stained Glass Acetate.

Thanks again for stoping in and enjoy the rest of the blog hop.  Just in case my Blog Hop Link at the top is not working you can go to OWH World Card Making Day bloghop to get back to the hop.

I also have a brief list of steps to create the Stained Glass Acetate I used on today's card on my blog's post from yesterday, October 5th.

Thanks for stopping in -- enjoy the rest of the hop.

Sharon

Take time to laugh -- it is the music of the soul.
                        ~Anonymous ~

OWH Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Thinking of You

Good Afternoon,

Thanks for stopping in -- I made a "Thinking of You" card for this weeks OWH Midweek Challenge using one of my newly discovered favorite techniques -- Stained glass window technique using acetate,  white glue, tissue paper, re-inkers and a little bit of glitter.  A great way to have a little sparkle and not worry about the glitter for our heroes.

Here's my creation for this challenge:

Supplies:  Stampin' Up (SU) card stock, embossing folder and leaf die.  Ribbon is
Offray - Metallic Web Copper -- Sentiment is from Hot Off the Press.  Leaf punch
from stained glass acetate I made.  I didn't use any stamps on leaf.

Here is a quick snapshot of what I use:

 Steps to make the window technique using acetate sheets

1.  I place the acetate sheet on a sheet of wax paper for easy removal
2.  Smear a thin film of white glue all over the sheet with your finger (you could use a paint brush but I feel I get better coverage and consistency using my fingers)
3.  Add 3 small dots of your choice of color re-inker (you can mix colors or just use one color)
4.  Swirl around with you finger to get desired color(s)
5. Optional (add glitter or sparkle of your choice)
6  Crinkle up a sheet of tissue paper and place over the mixture of glue, re-inker and glitter -- smooth out so the tissue lays down -- the more wrinkles in the tissue paper the more texture
7.  Pull  the completed acetate sheet off the wax paper  for drying -- I usually place the tissue side down on another piece of wax paper on a flat surface while it dries
8.  Once dry -- you leave it blank or you can stamp your image or sentiment on the acetate using StazOn ink. The color Black seems to work best when stamping.  (This card I didn't stamp any image on the leaf)

I know this is a brief overview so if you have questions -- please feel free to ask me in the comments section and I'll do my best to clarify.

Below are some pieces of these window sheets I've made -- I used the sheet on the bottom right for my leaf on the card above.  The colors on the sheet are Cajun Craze and Garden Green from Stampin' Up.

Thanks for stopping in -- have a great weekend and hope you have to time enjoy OWH World Card Making Day bloghop.

Blessings,

Sharon

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge #140

Good Sunday to all ......

I wanted to get my card posted before I started more card -- I'll post the supply list later for this card.  We were gone last week to meet our Granddaughter in Disneyland and I'm just getting caught up on everything.   We had the good fortune to be there when the Endeavour flew over -- I'll post a picture that I took of the Endeavour flying over too.

Thanks for taking the time to stop in and visit.....

Have a great day,

Sharon

Sketch Challenge #140

I flipped the sketch

Endeavour flying over Disneyland before it's final touchdown. You can see it on the
back of the jet.  It was hard to get a side shot as they flew right over our heads.

Quote for the day:  

  

   Conviction is worthless unless it is covered into conduct.

                                       ~Thomas Carlyle~

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge #138 and Gobstopper's

Hello -- I am so glad you stopped in -  I am posting one card that I made today.

I used the sketch #138 from OWH and tried my hand at Ghosting behind the silhouette.  
I know the sketch shows the right area empty -- but I just couldn't leave it empty.
I picked the yellow gobstopper color -- mine is a bit subdued in the picture it is a little
brighter in person.

Supplies:  The card stock,  the image - Serene Silhouette; the sentiment - Short & Sweet and the butterfly -
Papillion Potpourri are all from Stampin' Up.  The embossing folder is from
Tim Holtz collection and the ribbon is from Adornaments by EK Success

Challenges:

Operation Write Home - Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge #138

The Lollipop Ladies Fortnight Gobstopper Challenge #54

The Lollipop Ladies is having a fortnight Gobstopper Challenge #54 - the challenge

is to use a color from one of the candies and to be Monochromatic.

I just learned on The Lollipop Ladies previous - Sherbies Challenge #53 -- I won first place and will be a Guest Designer for their Challenge #57.  I am honored and frightened all in the same sentence.  LOL

Hope you all have a great crafting week.

Hugs,

Sharon

Always remember to forget the things that made you sad.  But never forget to remember the things that made you glad.

              ~Elbert Hubbard~

OWH Sketch Challenge #137, Wednesday Throw down Challenge and May Arts Challenge

Hello to all visitors -- it is so nice that you stopped in today.

Just a quick post to catch up a little bit.  I created to simple cards -- one for a friends birthday who loves to play cards and I used the OWH Sketch Challenge #137 for this card.   The second card is for the Any Hero Wednesday Challenge and May Arts - patriotic thank you card.

I hope you have a good rest of the weekend and thanks for stopping in.

Blessings to all,

Sharon

This is for the May Arts Challenge and OWH Mid Week Throwdown  Challenge

This card is for OWH Sketch Challenge #137

O heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath; guard them from all

evil, and let them sleep in peace.

                       ~Albert Schweitzer~

OWH Tutorial/Bonus Sketch & Sherbies and Embossing

Good Tuesday Afternoon,

Hope everyone enjoyed all of the fun this past weekend.  I know I did -- I still need to visit many of the wonderful works of art everyone has posted for all of the challenges.

Today I incorporated three challenges plus today's tutorial regarding glitter.  I usually don't use any glitter for our OWH cards except I have done two cards now with some glitter.  OH NO!!!!  you say  -- but wait! --  I did cover the glitter so it couldn't escape -- much like Sandy did in her glitter video.   I used glitter under my stained glass technique for first challenge in the VCMP  and today I put it under my velum.  It sparkles a little, but you really have to look.  I used it on the candle tips for the flames on today's card.

Today's card is for the OWH Bonus Sketch on Monday - Fawn Lawn Week making cards for our service members to send home to their kids.   I checked out their stamps and they are really cute - unfortunately I don't have many kid type stamps nor do I have any Fawn Lawn stamps (for now anyway).  I did find in my stash of stamps a set that I received some time ago from the Cardmaking magazine designed by Adam Pescott - so I used one of these stamps.

In addition to the OWH and Lawn Fawn challenge I am also entering in the The Lollipop Ladies  fortnight Challenge 53 - Sherbies and Embossing.   What is a Sherbie you ask?  It is an Australian candy with a orange and blue wrapper.  I found this Challenge from an invite I received on my blog from Lauren whose blog is Let's Get Messy! 

On today's card I used three embossing folders - Perfect Polka Dots and Fancy Fan both from SU and Happy Birthday from Provo Craft.  I heat embossed the image on one velum and on the reverse side I painted and placed the glitter.

Thanks for stopping in and hope you have a great week.

Hugs,

Sharon

I took a close up trying to capture the little bit of sparkle on the tips of the candles.

OWH Stars & Stamps VCMP Challenges

Good Sunday Afternoon -- I am just adding to yesterday's challenges and post.    Today I've managed to complete two cards -- I can't believe how much time these are taking today -- but loving every minute.  :-)

I finished yesterday's challenge for Triple Time Stamping.  Today I did the Sketch Challenge #136 and the challenge was to use punches for the embellishments.  I also incorporated the sketch challenge with "Christmas is for Kids" challenge -- I got two for one -- yeah!!!!

Thanks for stopping in -- now on to hopefully complete a couple more cards.

Sharon



Good Afternoon (Saturday)

I've been doing my best to stay up with the challenge today.  I love challenges.  :-)  In between making cards I've been cleaning house, doing laundry, trying to view all the wonderful cards that have been posted and leave a comment, etc.

Hope everyone is having a fun day too.  I know I am -- I'm going to post what I have finished and will be back with more as the challenges are revealed.

Have fun,

Sharon

This is for the first challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs.  We were to make
a card with either a Scripture verse or an uplifting quote or sentiment.  Lucky me
I purchased a new stamps set from SU and it had a Scripture verse -- yeah!! - I did a new
technique for me called "stained glass" -- I made this a few days ago in hopes I
might be able to use it in this weekends challenge.  I thought the stained glass look
would go well with the Scripture too.

This card is for the second challenge at Cherie's Corner of the World.  She gave us a
recipe of:  1 image - 2 patterned papers - and three words.  I made this masculine trying
to use up the two 12 x 12 DP I started using making this Wednesday's Throwdown challenge.

This the card for the Triple Time Stamping.  I used eggplant as the color of
the ink as well as the card stock.  I embossed the sentiment and added
a couple of rows of ribbon and a little piece of lace for some added texture and interest.

This card is for the third challenge at Cindy's Card Co.  Her theme is
Snowflakes but not Christmas.  So here is my rendition.

Here is the sketch challenge #136

This card is for sketch Challenge #136 and to use punches as well as for Christmas  is for Kids

I flipped the sketch and made a little mantle to hang the stockings.  I used

a retired punch from SU -- lots of little pieces to glue together .

Good Friday Evening,

Hope everyone has had some time to create this week.  I had a little bit of time this week -- looking forward to this weekend -- with lots of fun with the Blog Skip.

I crafted two cards today -- one for the OWH Masculine Challenge and another challenge I found using the color green and recycled items.  This challenge is over at Our Creative Corner.  I love to repurpose items for my cards -- so this was a fun challenge for me.

I am going to make some more Masculine cards -- using the tip that Kristi showed us on this Tuesday's tutorial using all of a 6 x 6 pad.  Well I don't know if I am up to a whole pad -- so I thought I would try doing it with just two 12 x 12 sheets of DP.  I'll use up the rest of the paper from the Masculine Card.

Anyway -- on to the cards --

Thanks for stopping in -- have a great weekend.

Sharon

This is my Masculine Challenge card -- I used SU - The Open Sea stamps and card stock.
The sentiment is from Hero Arts

This is my card for the challenge over at Our Creative Corner.

I punched the bird and branches from a recycled coffee cuff using the punch

from SU.  The brown background paper is made with recycled packing paper stamped

with the SU stamp Fresh Vintage.  The doily is from one of my thrift shop finds and

the little button is from some old buttons I bought years ago.

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge 135

Hello

Hope everyone is having a good day.  Did you enjoy the OWH Pizzazz Blog Skip?  I know I did - picked up lots of great ideas and techniques to try.  Although today -- I have had a tough time finding my mojo and then on top of that -- problems with a stamp I purchased but hadn't used until today.  Anybody else have these kinda days?  :-)

In spite of missing my mojo, I did manage to make one card today.  I am trying to get some personal cards made and finish up cards for OWH.  Today's sketch card is for a friend of ours who is a great outdoorsman.  (Not to worry-- no chance of him seeing the card --  he doesn't look at my blog) LOL

 I had something else in mind for this card -- I thought I had a great moose stamp -- come to find out it didn't stamp worth beans -- the rubber is concave on the stamp so it left huge areas of the moose un-inked.  So I used a buffalo instead.

I also did a couple cards on Friday -- One for tutorial using the ghosting technique shown by Sybrina from "Scrapping With A Purpose" and the other is for our Wednesday Throwdown Challenge - making a card using patterned papers along with dies & paper punches.   Krisite did a great job on the sample cards for the Wednesday Challenge.

Wishing you a wonderful week and thanks taking the time to stop by.

Hugs,

Sharon

Buffalo stamp, card stock and leaf die from SU

Sentiment is from Hero Arts.  DP is Camouflage - Wildlife

from Making Memories. 

Ghosting Technique

Wednesday's Throwdown - Supply Challenge
Patterned Paper, dies and punches
I used Framelits die and small tag punch from SU
Patterned paper - orange polka dots - Recollections - Basics
and Cat pumpkin DP is from DCWV - Four Seasons

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge 134 and others

Good Monday afternoon,

Hope all of you crafters had a good weekend.  I was busy with many things including trying to catch up on the challenges.  Seems since I've gotten back from vacation -- I can't get caught up.  Maybe I am still on vacation mode.  :-)  I did make some Pindo Palm Jelly.  Now how many of you knew that this variety of palm tree produces fruit?  I sure didn't until we moved to the desert and our backyard had a couple of these palms.   Anyway -- back to cards.

In crafting my cards this week, I decided to try and re-purpose an item for each of the cards.  I did that for all of them but one. (My Halloween card)  This weeks sketch I really like and plan on making some more cards this week using this sketch.   I look forward to the sketch challenges -- I like how it does challenge my card making skills.  Thanks to Julie and the OWH team for doing such a great job!

I made a card for the Santa Tutorial and one for the Midweek Throwdown: Kraft cardstock + color.  I really enjoy making cards for OWH -- it is just a small way I can say "Thanks" to those serving our country.  For those of you that may not know what OWH stands for it I "Operation Write Home" It is a non-profit organization that sends blank handmade greeting cards cards to our nation's armed forces to write home on.  Please click on the OWH to learn more about OWH and good works that they do.

I am also stepping out of my comfort zone and going to use one of the OWH challenge cards for another challenge.  That challenge is over at "Our Creative Corner Theme Challenge" - that challenge was to make a card using office supplies (yeah -- I get to repurpose something) and to make sure there was  red on the card.   Hopefully I met that criteria.

Thanks for stopping in and I hope you all have a wonderful week!


Blessings,

Sharon

This card I made for dual challenges.  The office supplies  I used and re-purposed for the card
are:  Shipping tag, key tag, staples, string, file folder tab and dictionary page.  I painted the
tag with Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen Crackle paint then stamped it with a stamp from
Stampington.  The sentiment on the tag is from SU along with the card stock.  The typewriter
stamp is from Stampers Best.  I heat embossed it with black and then fussy cut it out.  The DP
is from Jenni Brown classic Red/Black.  The red strip of paper is embossed with SU by Sizzix
Brocade embossing folder - then I lightly sponged some white ink to bring out the embossing.

I re-purposed a shopping bag for the background paper.  The sentiment on the big
square is from Tim Holtz - the Birthday Wishes is from SU.  The watch stamp is from
Stampers est.  I also embossed the one strip with SU argyle embossing folder.  I added
some twine from SU.  On the watch - I head embossed it with black the I coated the
watch face with UTT to make it look like the watch had a glass front.

This is the card for the Kraft +color challenge.  I used a SU retired set.  I found in
some ribbon that looked like black web in my stash and I added a little feather.  The
background I stamped with the owl and candelabra.

And my Santa card -- I re-purposed some food bags with silver lining.  I don't drink pop in a can
so I decided to try this instead.   I also didn't have a large scallop oval or circle so I just did a plain
circle and decided to use my new SU woodgrain embossing folder for his beard.  

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge 133

Good Sunday Afternoon,

Well as you may notice it has been a bit since my last post.  We took a two week trip to Alaska and just returned.  What a beautiful state - so many wonderful things to see and do.   On our way we flew to Seattle had a 2 hour layover -- thought of giving Sandy (our fearless leader) a call to say hello (just kidding)  -- we know how busy that girl is.

I did find among all the many, many, many tourist shops a store that had a couple of rubber stamps.  I'll do a card using them and post it too.

Anyway -- back to today's sketch.  I had in my head "vintage" today (not sure why) -- so I did my best to make this one on the vintage side.   Still didn't turn out like I had visioned in my mind's eye so I'll work on another to see what else I may be able to do.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and crafty week.

Blessings to all,

Sharon

The background I used SU embossing folder Vintage wallpaper.  I painted it
with Folkart Vintage white acrylic paint then lightly sanded it when it was dry.
I also used the embossing folder Fancy Fan from SU as well as two die cuts - one from
SU Apothecary Accents Framelits and Spellbinders Nestabilities deckled rectangle.
To get a worn look on the brown I spritzed a bit of bleach on the brown paper.  I
cut the flowers from packing paper and spritzed it with clear smooch.  I used
MS button punch, the sentiment is from Hero arts, the pearls are from SU.  I added
a bit of scrap lace too.

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge 129 and Wednesday's Throwdown Challenge - Christmas in July

Good Monday Morning,

Seems like I am running behind this week -- we were out of town for a few days this past week - as fun as that is - I am glad to be home -- working to get caught up on household chores and all of the OWH challenges.  :-)  

Sunday's sketch was interesting for me -- as simple as it was I found myself pondering what I wanted to create with it.  I made one Christmas card and two birthday cards using this sketch.  I also completed today another Christmas card I started on Wednesday for Wednesday's challenge.

It was cloudy here in the desert on Sunday (we don't get too many cloudy days) - so that helped me work on Christmas - I kept thinking it was  cold outside with the clouds -- when in fact it was well in the high 90's.   This morning it is a bit cooler - just 72 so far.  Anyway -- I hope you all have a great week.  Thanks for stopping in - I really appreciate your comments.

Thanks,

Sharon

I used a retired SU stamp (Scenic Season) for the trees and sentiment - I took the liberty and added  

some ribbon to add a little more sparkle.  This would also work for our Wednesday's challenge

I used SU new stamp set (Reason to Smile) and card stock on these two cards.  I
embossed the two darker panels with the embossing folder Elegant Bouquet, however
it doesn't show up very well in the photos.

This card is for Wednesday's challenge - Christmas in July I used the bonus sketch no. 31
(shown below) that was used in the July 4th Blog hop.  

 

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge #128

Good afternoon,

Well I struggled with this sketch -- not sure what to use for the embellishments.  I  finally decided on a Fall theme so I could use some leaves.  Here is my rendition of this weeks challenge.  I may attempt creating another card using this sketch later today - depends if I can muster any mojo.  :-)   I am also posting the OWH Midweek Throwdown challenge Anniversary Cards and Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) July challenge is to make a card using the cooler colors from the color wheel.  It is really wonderful how ODBD supports OWH.

Hope all of you are enjoying your Sunday doing the things you love.

"We are shaped and fashioned by what we love".
                           ~ Goethe ~
Enjoy,

Sharon

The DP is from Imaginisce.  I used Martha Steward leaf punch.  The card stock,
the leaf stamp are from SU.  The sentiment -- unknown.

This card is for the Anniversary Challenge - The card stock, butterfly punch, the embossing
folder and the flower stamp are from SU.  The heart punch is from EK success.  The sentiment
is from Hero Arts. 

This card is also for the Anniversary Challenge.  I saw this card and had to CASE it.
I used SU Framelits Labels collection, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder and Bird
Builder punch.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

This card is for the ODBD challenge - The card stock, Argyle Embossing Folder.
and Flower stamp and saying 'Friend to Friend' is from SU.  The sentiment is from
Hero Arts.  The background DP is from Colorbok.  I also used the first sketch from
the 4th of July Blog Hop.  I am slowly going through to make a card from each sketch.

This card would also qualify for the ODBD challenge - I used SU, Chevron embossing folder,
the Apothecary Accent Framelits, butterfly punch, border punch and card stock.  The sentiment
is from Hero Arts.